Shams: Knicks, Guerschon Yabusele agree to deal

[mpharris36]

Extensions: Mikal at 4 years, $32m starting seems pretty fair (4th year player option) and then Mitch at 3 years (3rd year team option), $11m starting also seems pretty fair in today's market. Both would become easily tradable contracts for value IMO.

It could be "fair". But he is also eligible for 4 years 156 MM right now...whats his incentive to take less? If he waits until next year he would be eligible for basically the OG contract. The Knicks wouldn't risk that but your asking him to take less already when signing the full extension is already him taking less.

The incentive to take less would be risk/reward - is there a team willing to give him more as a free agent? Maybe but it's a risk.
I've read it could actually benefit the knicks to have a handshake deal with him to have more flexibility this upcoming offseason.

Not sure what you mean "asking him to take less already" - there is no guarantee he is worth a max so I would not view it as "taking less" if he took the full extension. especially these days in this new CBA - the idea that "less than the absolute max you can get by waiting a year and another team having the cap to do it" is not something I would consider a discount - for any player outside of like the top 8-12 maybe. What is bridges? top 40 maybe?

There are no guarantees with anything but the simple fact is he doesn't "have to" sign the extension now especially if the Knicks aren't offering him the full extension at the moment.

And as we have seen with the Turner contract...teams can get creative with opening up cap space so and the Knicks regimes MO has been not to let guys get to FA. They did it when the Randle contract talks broke down by a difference in value. The go by the model better to move a guy a year early than a year too late.

The fact of the matter is I know Knicks fans love to clown on Mikal...he had a pretty good year last year. Outside a #1 option (offensive engine) Mikal archetype is the 2nd most valuable in the NBA as a 2-way wing...those players don't grow on trees. Its why in the season before the Knicks acquired Mikal both memphis and HOU offered 4 1st rounder packages for him as well.

[Jalen Bluntson]

also, don't be mad at him if he decline that option and get real bread next summer.

The option is for next year? Damn. I thought was two years plus a player option. It's all about this season right now then. Let's win it all and who cares what happens next!!

I mean, I’m a fan of dude but don’t look at him as a must-have. This is really his best and probably last chance to get a birkin. He plays well on a winner and somebody will Hartenstein him.

If he’s back for the second year of these terms, something went wrong for both sides.

If he plays better than his deal, having that second year like we did with Shart would be better for both sides. It helps us retain some form of bird rights. It makes other teams offer more to get him away from us. If he sucks, who cares? Win win.

[Jeff Van Gully]

The option is for next year? Damn. I thought was two years plus a player option. It's all about this season right now then. Let's win it all and who cares what happens next!!

I mean, I’m a fan of dude but don’t look at him as a must-have. This is really his best and probably last chance to get a birkin. He plays well on a winner and somebody will Hartenstein him.

If he’s back for the second year of these terms, something went wrong for both sides.

If he plays better than his deal, having that second year like we did with Shart would be better for both sides. It helps us retain some form of bird rights. It makes other teams offer more to get him away from us. If he sucks, who cares? Win win.

Yes. Of course. Great for us. But terrible for him if he was good enough for a long-term deal at 30. We’d have to make space to keep him if he’s anything like we hope.

Excited to finally have him either way.

[BKlutch]

I mean, I’m a fan of dude but don’t look at him as a must-have. This is really his best and probably last chance to get a birkin. He plays well on a winner and somebody will Hartenstein him.

If he’s back for the second year of these terms, something went wrong for both sides.

If he plays better than his deal, having that second year like we did with Shart would be better for both sides. It helps us retain some form of bird rights. It makes other teams offer more to get him away from us. If he sucks, who cares? Win win.

Yes. Of course. Great for us. But terrible for him if he was good enough for a long-term deal at 30. We’d have to make space to keep him if he’s anything like we hope.

Excited to finally have him either way.

With iHart, we weren't allowed to offer as much as other teams. I believe with Yabu, we may compete with other teams on an even footing. So we'll have a choice to make, but it's not as bad as knowing we had to lose iHart.

[stuporman]

Didn't realize Yabuty is 29, thought he was mid 20s but he almost 30, wow

[kNicksGmen]

It could be "fair". But he is also eligible for 4 years 156 MM right now...whats his incentive to take less? If he waits until next year he would be eligible for basically the OG contract. The Knicks wouldn't risk that but your asking him to take less already when signing the full extension is already him taking less.

The incentive to take less would be risk/reward - is there a team willing to give him more as a free agent? Maybe but it's a risk.
I've read it could actually benefit the knicks to have a handshake deal with him to have more flexibility this upcoming offseason.

Not sure what you mean "asking him to take less already" - there is no guarantee he is worth a max so I would not view it as "taking less" if he took the full extension. especially these days in this new CBA - the idea that "less than the absolute max you can get by waiting a year and another team having the cap to do it" is not something I would consider a discount - for any player outside of like the top 8-12 maybe. What is bridges? top 40 maybe?

There are no guarantees with anything but the simple fact is he doesn't "have to" sign the extension now especially if the Knicks aren't offering him the full extension at the moment.

And as we have seen with the Turner contract...teams can get creative with opening up cap space so and the Knicks regimes MO has been not to let guys get to FA. They did it when the Randle contract talks broke down by a difference in value. The go by the model better to move a guy a year early than a year too late.

The fact of the matter is I know Knicks fans love to clown on Mikal...he had a pretty good year last year. Outside a #1 option (offensive engine) Mikal archetype is the 2nd most valuable in the NBA as a 2-way wing...those players don't grow on trees. Its why in the season before the Knicks acquired Mikal both memphis and HOU offered 4 1st rounder packages for him as well.

If anything the Turner contract shows that paying Bridges 40+ is a bit absurd. I would argue a stretch big rim defender is just as valuable as a "2 way wing" especially when bridges defense has fallen off and offensively has serious limitations - nobody is sold on the initial few months he had with the nets anymore.

Referencing the randle contract situation isn't unfair but it's not like it's something the front office has done over and over. It was also a unique situation since the fit was questionable and there were doubts about his ability to perform in the playoffs. Do the knicks dump randle for a worse package if the Kat trade never materialized? I highly doubt it - they would have ended up treating it similar to how the wolves did.

[3toheadmelo]

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[thebuzzardman]

I'm penciling Yabasule for about 30 mpg after watching Huk play yesterday

[Fat Kat]

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[BKlutch]

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We're all so desperate for some news we like this video. But in reality, the only thing worse than a highlight video is a 3 point practice shooting video. LOL

[thebuzzardman]

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We're all so desperate for some news we like this video. But in reality, the only thing worse than a highlight video is a 3 point practice shooting video. LOL

I'm reluctant to comment because the moderators are lurking like ICE at a Quinceañera

[Jalen Bluntson]

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We're all so desperate for some news we like this video. But in reality, the only thing worse than a highlight video is a 3 point practice shooting video. LOL

It's a first look at him in Orange and Blue!!